"In 1865-66, during Reconstruction, the federal government rebuilt
the tracks [of the San Antonio and Mexican Gulf railroad] from Port
Lavaca to Victoria at a cost of $45,000, which was levied against
the owners. Though they were unable to make the payment, the
government allowed the line to continue operation. The year 1869
proved difficult, however, as extended rains weakened the roadbed
enough to prevent the use of steam engines; service was reduced to
triweekly and limited to light cars drawn by mules or even powered
by sail. The owners, unable to secure locally the financial means
to purchase the government lien and unwilling to try in the North,
secured a contract with English capitalists to cover the debt,
build the branch to Indianola, and extend the line into DeWitt
County and even to San Antonio; but the deal fell through. In 1870
the United States government foreclosed on the property, and the
stockholders... lost their investment." - from the Texas State
Historical Association website.

Condition: Lacking wrappers; light to moderate toning to
pages; contemporary ownership in ink on the front endpaper; some
wrinkling to pages, otherwise good condition.